Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-05-20
LOST MINE FOUND.
The Rich and Unexpected Discoverx -.
California Prosnoo4.. = "

The Rich and Unexpected Disoov.r~
California Prospector.
Some of our readers are famil;o.
with a tradition that the Jesuit father.
who once conducted the San Buenven-
tura, Santa Barbara, San Ynez. Ia
furissima and San Fernando missions
once successfully worked mine To-
Gated probably in what is now Ventura
County. Tradition has it that the mine
was worked near the beginning of the
present century, after which it was GOV.
cred with earth and all trace of its
existence destroyed as far as possible
from which time its location has been
a mystery to all but the few who
worked it and were familiar with its
history.
An old Indian whom the writar
knew, and who died a few years ago in
Santa Barbara County, aged, accord
ing to the baptismal record of Santa
Barbara Mission, one hundred and five
years, claimed to know where the rich
mine was located, but he fully believed
that he would be struck dead should
he reveal it. He said that he and
other friendly Indians who knew of it
when the mouth was covered up and
the mine abandoned, if we mistake not
on account of hostile tribes, had taken
a solemn oath not to let any one know
the place where it was located, and
that they had been assured that treach-
cry on their part would result in sure
and sudden death. He, and we be-
iieve all others who professed to know
any thing about its existence, were
unanimous in saying it was on the side
OF mountain, and that it was a tunnel.
But those who professed to know any
thing concerning its location have
passed away, and by many it had be-
come to be regarded as mere tradition:
and as much time, money and labor
had been expended in searching for it
many had come to believe its existence
was mythical.
But short time ago professional
prospector, gentleman thoroughly
conversant with the mines of Arizona,
New Mexico and Colorado, tracing the
Calico ledge into this county, acct
dentally came upon an old tunnel pene-
trating the side of the mountain, which
he believes to be the lost Jesuit mine.
He roughly estimates the length to be
three hundred or four hundred feet,
with the sides "coviied'' in various
directions. The gentleman and his
partner were attracted to the spot by
seeing cottonwood trees growing on the
side of mountain, and after reach
ing the spot they found them grow
ing in the mouth of tunnel.
Their appearance indicated that cot
tonwood limbs had been placed on end
at the mouth of the tunnel and covered
with earth, the dampness from within
having caused them to grow. But the
earth caved in, and washed by the rains
of probably sixty or seventy winters,
exposed the tunnel which had been so
effectually concealed.
Near by were found the remains of
old smelling works, and silver brick
weighing about one pound, which the
prospectors exhibited to us, was picked
up. This prospector, who is an unusu-
ally intelligent man, first traced the
Calico ledge into Arizona, then return
ing he traced it into Ventura County,
and believes that he has found ledge
of mineral far more valuable than the
Waterman or any other mine yet discov-
cred in San Bernardino County. The
specimens exhibited to us indicated
rich ore, some of them carrying free
gold, and if once developed may be
source of immense revenue to this
county. The ledge is an extensive one
and can be easily worked Ventura
| (Cdl. Free Press.